On behalf of President Larry Robinson, the faculty and staff of Florida A&M University, we want to say thank you for participating in the Graduate Feeder Program. Since its inception in 1987, the Feeder Program has been a pipeline of outstanding talent from our great institution to top notch graduate programs around the country.

According to Essence and Money Magazine (2016), FAMU was ranked the number one Historical Black University in America. Some other interesting facts about FAMU include:

The U.S. News & World Report lists FAMU as the top public historically black college or university in the nation for 2015.

In 2014, FAMU was recognized among the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best National Universities.”

It is also listed among The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Southeast” colleges and is one of the top picks for providing a high quality education at an affordable price in Florida, according to The College Database (2013).

FAMU values diversity in thought, perspective, and culture. The University enrolls nearly 10,000 students hailing from across the United States and more than 70 countries, including several African countries, the Bahamas, Brazil, Indonesia, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

To speak with someone directly about the Graduate Feeder Program, and the upcoming conference, please contact the School of Graduate Studies and Research at graduatefeeder@famu.edu or by phone at (850) 599-3505.

We look forward to working with you. All the best, Dr. David H. Jackson, Jr. Dean of Graduate Studies and Research

About this Year's Conference

Special Thanks to the Schools Participating in this Year's Conference:

Auburn University

Barry University

Carnegie Mellon University

Cornell University

Erikson Institute

Florida State University

Florida International University

Indiana University

Miami University

Michigan Technological University

North Carolina A&T State University

Northwestern University

Nova Southeastern University

Oregon State University

Purdue University

Texas A&M University

U.C. Santa Barbara

UCLA

University of Chicago

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Memphis

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri

University of North Carolina

University of South Florida

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Wake Forest University

West Virginia University

Statement of Purpose

The Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (GFSP) in the School of Graduate Studies and Research is an official partnership agreement arranged by FAMU with more than 40 participating universities located throughout the United States. The GFSP affords FAMU students the opportunity to receive advanced study in graduate programs not available at FAMU. The feeder arrangement was conceptualized and created in response to the national need to increase the number of African Americans participating in advanced graduate education. The GFSP was designed with FAMU as the lead university in this consortium. As the lead institution, FAMU acts as the hub of the consortium with a committed role of providing a pool of qualified underrepresented minorities motivated to pursue the Master's or Doctoral degrees.

Participation in the GFSP is voluntary and is targeted primarily for any current student of FAMU in any academic discipline, with the exception of the professional schools. FAMU and the Feeder Institutions have established a partnership agreement or Memorandum of Understanding. This partnership agreement spells out the Feeder Institution’s level of participation in the program. The Feeder Representative is usually associated with the Graduate School and may serve as a liaison to the student and FAMU. The Feeder Representative may also serve as a mentor/advisor to the student upon admission to the Feeder Institution.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the School of Graduate Studies & Research via the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program is to: (1) Promote graduate education, scholarship and research; (2) Equip our students with the knowledge and tools to become successful, highly motivated graduate students; (3) Provide students with a mechanism to pursue graduate study in areas not available at Florida A&M University; and (4) Act as liaison between the Feeder Institutions and the students to advocate a quality graduate experience.

The Graduate Feeder Program objectives are to:

Enroll 75-100 FAMU graduates annually in the Feeder Institutions;

Monitor the admission, financial offers, academic progression, and graduation of the scholars;

Maintain regular and continual contact and direct communication with the scholars;

Monitor scholars compliance with GPA requirements to remain active in the program;

Notify scholars of their program status as changes occur;

Ensure effective human relations and assessment of the climate of receptivity by visiting the Feeder Institutions; and

Maintain information on the scholars for future research

Criteria for Participation in the Feeder Program

1. Students interested in applying to the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program should meet the following requirements:

All Graduate Feeder Scholars Program participants are required to complete a series of developmental workshops that will prepare them for the rigors of graduate study. The workshops will be offered each semester and include such topics as: “The Graduate Application Process”; “How to Write a Personal Statement”; “How to Write a Theses or Dissertation”; “Strategies & Techniques for taking Standardized Examinations”; and “What to Expect in Graduate School”.

Participants are required to complete at least four workshops to be qualified and considered as a Graduate Feeder Scholar. Upon completion of the requirements, participants will be mailed a "Certificate of Completion" to be officially considered a Graduate Feeder Scholar.

Participation Agreement

The Participation Agreement is a partnership or memorandum of understanding between Florida A&M University and the Feeder Institutions. It stipulates the basic benefits each Institution will provide to qualified FAMU scholars upon application and acceptance into a graduate program of study. Some participation agreements include the following: admission application fee waivers, campus visitation opportunities at no charge to students, and summer research internships.

The agreements are initially instituted to cover a five-year period. However, they are monitored annually to ensure active participation in the program. Feeder Institutions are invited to the campus of Florida A&M University annually for the purpose of providing institutional information and recruitment.